Flying-machine.



S. B. VOSS.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IULYI. 19134 @WM @Kwam an.. d 61mm,

S. B. VOSS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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S. B. VOSS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 1, 1913.

l ,097,489. Patented May 19, 1914..

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attenua S. B. VOSS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 1, 191e.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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S. B. VOSS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914.

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`Specification 'of Letters Patent. Application filed Jilly 1, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914. Serial No. 776,823.

To all wim/1th may Cmzrcr'u Be it knownthat I, SIMON B. Voss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hart-ly, in the county of Kent and `State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which Y the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines ofthe lieavier-tlian-air type. The objects of the invention are, first, to

provide a machine having inherent stability and which maybe conveniently trimmed or balanced as necessary .according to varying dispositions ofthe'parts of the load Weight carried; second, to provide a novel construction of 'supporting surface and propelling,A

lifting and stabilizing means by which the machine may be caused to ascend or descend in a straight path, to hover in the air over any given point, to be steered and balanced withfacility, and to descend. safely with a parachutic effect in` case of stoppage of the motor; third, to provide an improved type of landing gear adjustable to vary the center of gravity of the machine as required and to effectually cushion -all shocks and jars in landing; fourth, to provide simple, re-

liable and efficient means for controlling the movable parts and governing the' lifting and propelling mechanism; and, finally, to provide'V a machine which may be easily handled by even inexperienced fiiers.

The invention consists'of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2

is 'a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top vplan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section. ,Fig 5 is a vertical transverse section on'the line 4-4 of Fig. 4.-

Fig. 6 is a view of al portion of the main frame and the propeller shafts and transmission and clutch mechanism. Fig. 7 is a diagrainmatical perspective view of the steering and controlling devices. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the main frame, showing the construction and mode of mounting the front frame extension or section' of the carriage. Fig. 9 is a similar view of a portion of the main frame, shovving the construction of mounting the rear frame extension or, section `of the carriage.

Referring to the dra-Wings, l designates the car or base portion of'l the main frame of the machine, 'which is preferably of generally rectangularjform, and provided with superposed openivork grids or platforms 2 and 3 to support the aviator-s seat 4 and theJ driving motor 5, the lowerl grid or platl .form Salso serving as a support for su'ity able landing skids 6 reinforced from the.

fra-me by stays 7 The aviators seat and the motor are arranged at the base of the frame, together with the `fuel supplying means employed in practice, to give a low center of gravity, coacting with the improved construction and arrangement of supporting vsurface and .adjustable carriage sections,

hereinafter described, togive inherent sta- 'bility and to enable the' machine to be trimmed and balanced with great facility.

Rising from the car 1 is a frustolpyramidal mast or tower 8, including corner posts or beams 9, rigidly fastenedto the frame and tied Yand braced by head bars 10 and center b'ars 11.` From the head bars radiate front, rear and lateral truss-arms 12 which carry a supporting plane or surface 13 of' circular form, said plane being of proper area and inclined at a suitable angle of incidence forsustentation effect. The plane or supporting surface comprises inner and outer rims '111 and 15,' ribs 16 and segmental plates orsections 17 suitabl' secured to each other landto' the rims an ribs, saidsegmentalfplates or sections being formed of, a light sheet metal or other suitable material. Skeleton braces 18, of a truss-Work type, re-

inforee the arms 12 andbody of the' supporting surface, which is also stayed'alnd reinforced v from the frame by 'skeleton trusswork guys 19 and brace rods or cables 20.

A lifting propeller 21 is arranged to rotate directly above a circular opening 22 in the supporting plane 13 and has a Working sweep corresponding to the diameter thereof,so that the bankv of air depressed by the propeller will fiow under and react against the supporting surface, thereby greatly augmenting the lifting capacity of the machine. This propeller is mounted upon the upper end of `a vertical shaft 23 suitably journaled upon and arranged Within the upper portion of the mast. By means of this propeller, which may be rotated at varying speeds, the machine maybe caused tofdrectly ascend or descend, and to hover to suit the convenience of the aviator. The' in the air over any given point, and by its proper control the speed of descent of the machine may at a-ll times be governed.

Shafts 24 and Q5 extend longitudinally at the front and rear of the frame and are iournaled in bracketsQG on the frame and brackets 2T extending outwardly from the frame, which yshafts Vcarry p-ropellers 28 and 29 for driving t-he machine ahead. Attheir inner ends said shafts carry pulleys 30 and 8l connected by belts 32' and 33 with pulleys 34 and 3501i a longitudinally eX# tending transmission shaft 36` carrying `a main drive pulley 37 receiving motion by ineans of a belt 38 from apulley 39 on the motor shaft. Clutch members and 4l are feathered to the transmission vshaft and adapted for engagement with clutch surfaces on the pulleys 30 and 3l, whereby the propellers 28 .and 29 may be simultaneously or independently driven. The Asaid clutches` 40 and 4l are'adjustable by means of shifting devices 42 and 43 each adapted to engage a rtoothed rack '44, whei'eby vthey may be Secured in adjusted position. On the shaft 36 is a gear 45 meshing'with a gear 4G on the lower end of the shaft 23, whereby the lifting propeller 21 may be driven. The said gear 45 is loose on the transmission shaft and provided with a clutch sleeve 47 adapted to be engaged by 'a clutch. member` 4S by means of ashifting device 49 adapted for engagement with one of the racks 44, whereby it may be secured inl adjusted position. It will thus be understood that the propellers may be' thrown into or out of operation for independent or conjoint ac.- tion as occasion may require in the operation or cont-rol of the machine.

A vertical rudder 5() is pivoted to swing laterally `on'al bracket 5l at the rear of thel supporting surface and is providedV with crank arms to which are attached the rear endsI of cont-rolling cables 52, which are .op-`

positely wound at their. forward ends upon a drum mounted on a control shaft 54. The shaft 54 is journaled at its lower .end in a bearing box 55 pivoted to tilt in a fore and aft direction lupon-al bracket 56, whereby it may be disposed relative tothe lseat 4 shaft 54 preferably consists `of a lower sleeve section 57 telescopieally receiving anx upperrod section 58 provided-with a. hand wheel 59 and adjustably secured to thesecofthe shaft may be varied -as may desire.

Bracket arms 6l are arranged iupairs at thefro'nt, rear and on opposite sides of the frame and depend from the supporting surface, which brackets v.support lhorizontal transverse shafts 621 On thefront and 'rear transverse-shafts are pivotally mounted elevating-planes 68, which are tiltable from a horizontal t-o a vertical position, and vvice mallyvertical surface 66, extending above and below thehorizontal surface.- The stabilizers are simultaneously or independently tiltable to control lateral stability, while the elevating planes are tiltable simultaneously or independently for vertical steer ing or to control longitudinal stability. The vertical surfaces of the stabilizers op-v erate to prevent. the machineV from skidding,

and 'serve also in con-junctionwith the elevatyors to cooperate with the supporting sur face to secure a parachutic action, in case of danger or stoppage oft-he motor, as hereinafter described. i

Control cordsG'T and G8, arranged in pairs, connect` the elevatorsv with pivoted control levers 67 and GS. and cont-rol` cords 69 and 70 also arranged in pairs, connect the stabilizers with control levers G9 and 70, These levers are arranged in suitable relation to thev aviators'seat to enable the aviator to adjust the elevators and sta-vv bilizers independently or conjointly. in any manner required tosteer and stabilize the machine.` In the event of the stoppage of ,the'moton or, if, from anyfother cause, the

machine loses its sustentation. power, 'the aviator by adjusting the elevator and planes to a verticalposition will dispose them to act as resistance' surfaces 1tending to maintain abody of air beneath the circular-supporting plane, by which the lat-tei' will be caused to-perform the function of a parachute having sufficient sustaining resistance to adapt the machine to descend slowlyto lthe grou-nd and come to safe landing.

ico

At the front of the .car l is a supporting. member or extension 7l pivoted at 72 for vertical movement and to the outer end of which is pivoted, as at '73, a caster frame`74 in which is journaled a suitably cushioned launching and landingwheel 7 5. The frame 74 is provided with crank arms "76 to which iro arelconnected-cords or cables 77 wound op-".

positelyup'on a drum 78 on the control shaft 54, 'whereby the wheel 7 5 may be turned to,

steerthe machine lon the ground, the con-f struction ofthe controllingr connections de- ,Y

-justed by, a.l single control device. Thecar-f riage section or ertension 7l 4has a cross bar,

779, on which bear 'flanged pressure shoes or 'plates 80, connected: withl the sides ofthe .ments at their upper ends, eXertpressui-e at scribe'd'bei'ng suoli that-both `the vertical-` rudder and"ste'eringwheel 75 maybe ,adi-f tion 57 by a set screw 60, so that the'length the avia-tor their. lower ends against the sleeve. The construction described provides cushioning mechanism yieldingly sustaining the carriage section and steering wheel against upwardinotion, while permitting them to have yielding movement under certain conditions,

,corners of the frames 85 and 86, which portions of said frames are also connected by a bracing cable 94 provided with a tensioning device 95. The connections named are resilient and by this construction it will be seen that while the carriage frames are permitted to 'have yielding movement together,

- they ar'ealso permitted, by reason of the resiliency of their connections, to have independentresilient vertical play, thus providing for a proper cushioning action in landing while also permitting the wheels 87 to ride over irregularities of ground surface without injury.

Y Flanged pressure shoes or plates 96, similar to the shoes 80, are connected to the sides of the carby resilient arms 97 and bear upon the cross bar 89 to oppose a yielding;

resistance to the upward movement of the said rear carriage section or extension. Con.' y

necting rods 98 couple said shoes to sleeves 99 slidable on the lower rounded ends of the rear corner posts 9, said sleeves being backed',

fadapted to normally sustain the weight of the machine upon the ground, butin the event that theyare forced upward to the limit of their ycushioning motion the skids 6 will come in contact 'with the ground and Vsustain the shock and reduce liability of damage to the machine. Levers 101 `and 102l are pivotednpon the Vcar for fore and aft motionand are provided with dogs 103 to enga-.ge racks 1011, for locking them 'in adjustedposition. These levers are connected by cables 105 and 106 with the front and rear ca'rriagesections, so that said sections may be allowed to drop down or be swung vupward to lie to a greater or less extent within or beyond the vertical plane of the car, so that they will serve as stabilizers adjustable when the machine is in flight to vary .the center of gravity for trimming or stabilizing action,by Vwhich additional safety and Vadvantage inthe operationbf 'the machine is secured. In practice, the

truss braces beneath the supporting plane are preferably utilized as supports for the passage of the controlling wircsvor cables leading to the elevators and stabilizers, which cables in addition pass oversuitable guide pulleys, thus preventing them from becoming bound or caught, as will be readily understood. l

I claim l. A flying machine -having a suppdrting plane ofcircular form, elevating planes disposed beneath the front and rear portions of said circular plane, stabilizing planes arranged beneath tlre lateral portions of the circular plane, said elevating and stabilizing planes beingmounted to tilt from a hori-I zontal to a vertical position on'ho-rizontal transverse axes, and means for tilting said elevating; and stabilizing planes.

2. A flying machine having a supporting plane of circular form, elevating planes disposed beneath the front and rea-r portions lof saidcircular plane, stabilizing planes ing planes being mounted to tilt from a horizontal to a vertical position on horizontal transverse axes, and meansfor tilting said elevating and stabilizing planes.

3. A flying machine having a supporting plane of circular form, a vertical shaft en tending upwardly through the opening in said plane, a lifting propeller' carried by said shaft and arranged to rotate immediately above the opening in the plane, said propeller having a circular sweep corresponding substantially to the circumference of the opening, elevating planes disposed be,- neath the front-andrear portions. of said circular plane, stabilizing planes having horizontal and vertical surfaces and ar ranged beneath the lateral portions of the circular plane, said elevating and stabilizing planes being mounted to tilt from a horizontal to a vertical position on horizontal transverse axes, and means for tilting said elevating and stabilizing planes.

4. A flying machine comprising a car, a frusto-pyramidal mast rising from' the car, a supporting planeof circular form mounted upon the mast, avertical shaft extending upward through the mast and opening in the supporting plane, a lifting propeller mounted upon saidshaft to rotate above the 'opening in :the plane, longitudinally extendinghafts projecting in frontand rear of themast below the plane, ldriving propelleis carried by said longitudinally xextending shafts, power mechanism for 'driving' the propeller shafts, eleva-ting' planes disposed beneath the front and .rear portions of said circular' plane, stabilizing planes having horizontal and .verticaly surfacesand arranged beneath the lateral portions of the circular plane, said elevating and stabilizL ingplanes being mounted to tilt from a horizontal to a Vertical position on herizontal transverse axes, and means for tilting said elevating and stabilizing planes.

5. A {i5/fing niaehine comprising a car, a inast rising from the car, a vertical shaft extending upward through .the mast and opening;` in the supporting plane, a lifting' propeller mounted upon Said shaft to rotate aboiie the opening in the plane, longitudinally extending shafts projectingr in front and rear of the mast below the plane, driving propeller-s carried by said longitudinally extendingr shafts, power mechanism for driving the propeller shaft, elevating` plane-s disposed beneath the front and rear portions of said circular plane, Astabilizing` planes arranged beneath the lateral portions of the circular plane, saidelevating and stabilizing planes being mounted to tilt frein a horizontal to a vert-ical position on horizontal transverse axes, and means for tilting,- Said elevating and Stal'iilizing;` planes.

In testimony whereof l. aiiiX my signature 2 in presence of two Witnesses.

SIMON B. VOSS. Witnesses:

J. EDMOND STEVEXS, JOHN B. VHARTON.

Cepies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

